The Listening Room: Jason Mraz, Rise Against and more new releases

Rise Against releases its new album, ìThe Black Market,î on Tuesday, July 15, 2014. Photo courtesy of Interscope Geffen A&M

POP

Jason Mraz, “Yes!” (Atlantic Records), 3 stars

Few artists could get away with an album title as cloyingly positive as “Yes!,” but Jason Mraz is certainly among those exceptions. The San Diego troubadour’s inherent optimism is infectiously and convincingly genuine, not to mention tuneful; even when his world is falling part — as it is on “3 Things” — Mraz comes out declaring that “things are looking up.” And if he occasionally comes off like Barry Manilow’s hipster incarnate his catchy melodicism usually wins the day. Mraz has also been successful in finding fresh ways to express his sunny disposition, and on “Yes!” he takes a more earthy, acoustic-flavored turn, playing and writing with Raining Jane, whose violins, cellos, mandolins, pedal steels, sitars and choral backing bring a soulful richness to the set’s 14 tracks. “Everywhere” is “Yes!’s” overt pop moment, big beat and all, while “Quiet,” “Out of My Hands” and “Back to Earth” explore rootsy terrain and “You Can Rely on Me” and the closing six-minute opus “Shine” dip into gospel territory. The album certainly isn’t pain-free — brimming love songs give way to break-up laments about two-thirds of the way through — but Mraz even makes sadness easy to listen to and “Yes!” an affirmative entry in his catalog.

ROCK

Rise Against, “The Black Market” (DGC Interscope): 3 stars

Chicago’s Rise Against is a punk band at heart, and more overtly outspoken and political than nearly 100 percent of its peers. But the group is more musically sophisticated as well, and its seventh studio set continues to push forward without sacrificing the blunt, attack-dog fury that’s Rise Against’s stock in trade. The band certainly comes out swinging with the likes of “The Great Die-Off” and the anthemic single “I Don’t Want To Be Here Anymore,” but it’s mid-album cuts such as “Sudden Life,” “A Beautiful Indifference” and “Methadone” that showcase an exciting dynamic reach. And on “People Live Here,” frontman Tim McIlrath surrounds himself with acoustic guitar and string, a change of pace that’s as raw and potent as any of its harder rocking companion tracks.

Big Wreck, “Ghosts” (Rounder): The Canadian rockers deliver their second album after reuniting in 2012 following an 11-year hiatus.

Bleachers, “Strange Desire” (RCA): The debut outing from the new band formed by fun. guitarist Jack Antonoff includes collaborations with Grimes and Yoko Ono.

Cowboy Jack Clement, “For Once & For All” (I.R.S.): The late country-western icon’s final album features a who’s-who of helpers, including Vince Gill, John Prine, Emmylou Harris, Jim Lauderdale and many more.

Fink, “Hard Believer” (Ninja Tune): A new collection of original material from the British singer-songwriter follows last year’s collaboration with the Netherlands’ Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Kate Garibaldi, “Follow Your Heart” (Living Dream Music): The Americana singer-songwriter works with the Magik*Magik Orchestra for new textures on her seventh album.

John Hiatt, “Terms of My Surrender” (New West): The veteran singer-songwriter focuses on acoustic guitar playing for much of his latest collection of literate and personal reflections.

Peter Himmelman, “The Boat That Carries Us” (Himmasongs): The latest set from Bob Dylan’s always engaging son-in-laws marks the first time Himmelman has composed lyrics first and then built songs around them.

JPNSGRLS, “Circulation” (Light Organ): The Vancouver modern rockers’ first full-length album follows the buzz generated earlier this year by “The Sharkweek EP.”

Loverboy, “Unfinished Business” (Loverboy): The Canadian rock group’s first set of new material in seven years was built from song demos the group had worked on in the past but never completed for an album.